Fence-post



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheeb 1.

R. B. ROBBINS.

FENCE POST.

Patented Nov. 2, 18.97,

Wzkfsaes- (No Model.) 9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. B. ROBBINS.

FENCE POST.

No. 592,997. v Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

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UNITED STATES n'rnnr FFICE.

RICHARD l3. ROBBINS, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,997, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed March 22, 1897. Serial No. 628,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD B. ROBBINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in fenceposts; and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the said drawings,l3igure 1 represents a side View of a post embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail View, partly in section, of a part of the construction. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification of my invention designed for use as a corner- Fig. 5 is a side view similar to Fig. 1, showing another slight modification of the invention.

In building wire fences a very great strain is brought to bear upon the end or corner post of the fence, and it is necessary that this post should be very rigid in its construction in order that it shall not be pulled outof the ground or bentout-of a vertical position. It is also very desirable that the post shall be capable of being adjusted after the fence has been built, to correct any leaning caused by the settling or yielding of the surrounding earth and also to regulate the tension of the wires to compensate for the expansion which takes place in summer and the contraction which occurs in winter. I accomplish all these results by my post, and at the same time the construction is simple, cheap, and durable.

A represents the vertical portion or post proper, which is constructed, preferably, of angle iron or steel of a length sufiicient to allow a considerable portion to be embedded in the earth and the required portion to extend above ground. The lower end of the post A is provided with means for preventing it from being pulled upwardly. In this instance I have shown the lower end of the post 4 split at the angle and portions aa of the flanges bent into horizontal position, as clearly shown in Fig. 2; but this may also be accomplished in other ways. The upper part ofthe post is provided with a series of holes ct a, adjacent to the angle to enable the wires to be attached as shown, or the wires maybe attached in any other convenient manner.

One of the flanges of the post is provided with an angular bolt 13, which is bent upwardly and passes through one flange of an adjustable brace-bar 0, extending in the direction of the pull of the fence-wires formed also, preferably, of angle iron or steel and having its lower end provided with a flattened or horizontal portion or foot 0, which rests upon some rigid support-in this instance a short post of wood C -although it may rest upon a fiat stone or othersupport, if desired. 1 prefera support extending below the frostline if it can be conveniently employed.

The upper end of the brace-bar C is split adjacent to the angle and the end 0' of the vertical flange of the said brace is preferably made to pass on the outside of the adjacent flange of the post proper, as shown in Fig. 3. In order to prevent the lower end of the bracebar 0 from moving away from the post A, a horizontal bar D, which may also be of angle iron or steel, is riveted or otherwise secured to the post A and the brace-bar C, as shown. The bolt 13 is provided with a nut above the brace-bar, so that by turning this nut the upper part of the post can be adjusted in line with the fence to tighten or loosen the wires. I also provide an adjustable truss-rod for equalizing the strain on the post A and stifffening it. This truss-rod extends from the lower part of the post A to a point on the brace-bar adjacent to its foot and just above the surface of the ground. I prefer to use a plain bar E for this purpose having threaded portions passing through the flanges of the post and brace-bar, as shown, and provided with nuts. The nut at the upper end of the bar E can be turned up to tighten said bar and thus truss up the post A.

In order to loosen the wires, it is only neces sary to loosen the nut on the bolt B, and by tightening said nut the tension of the wires can be increased and the post trued up in case it should for any reason sag. By this means the wires can be loosened up in the fall and tightened in the spring to compensate for the contraction and expansion of the wires by the change in temperature.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a post designed for use as a corner-post and having braces extending in two directions. In this construction A represents the post proper provided with the adjustable brace-bar 0, horizontal brace D, and truss-rod E, all constructed and arranged as heretofore described. A is also provided with a second brace-bar C, which extends at right angles to the bar 0, a second horizontal bar D, and a second trussrod E. The upper ends of the bracebars Oand O engage the bolt B. A separate adjusting-nut is provided for each brace-bar, as shown, so that the corner-post can be adjusted to tighten or loosen the wires of either panel of the fence.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slightly-modified form of post, in which I dispense with the adj usting-nut. A represents the post proper; C the brace-bar; D the horizontal bar, and E the truss-rod. The brace-bar G is fastened rigidly at its upper end to the post proper, and the adjustment is secured by means of a wedge F, which is placed beneath the foot of the brace-bar, between it and its I By loosening or driving up this, wedge the post A can be adjusted and the support.

wires tightened or loosened and the post prevented from sagging. This construction may also be used in a corner-post, if desired, as will be readily understood.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the post proper, of an inclined brace-bar connected to said jacent to its lower end and below the surface of the ground, and connected also to said brace-bar and means for adjusting said brace- A bar to move the upper portion of said post in line with the fence-wires, to tighten or loosen said wires, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the post proper, of an inclined brace-bar, connected to said post adjacent to the upper end thereof, and having its foot supported adjacent to the ground, a horizontal bar connected to said post and inclined brace-bar adjacent to the ground-line, a truss-rod connected to said post adjacent to its lower end and to said inclined brace-bar, and an adjusting device in- The post terposed between the upper end of said inclined brace-bar and the post,'whereby the upper part of said post can be moved in line with the fence-wires to straighten said post and to'tighten or loosen the fence-wires, sub stantially as described.

3. The combination with the post proper, of an inclined brace-bar connected to said post adjacent to the upper end thereof and having its foot supported adjacent to the ground, a horizontal bar secured to the post and to said brace-bar, a truss-rod connected at its lower end to the post adjacent to its lower end, and its upper end adjustably secured to said brace-bar, and an adjusting device interposed between said post and the up per end of said brace-bar, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the post proper, provided adjacent to its upper end with an adjusting-bolt having a vertically-disposed portion, an inclined brace-bar having its upper end engaging said bolt and its lower end supported adjacent to the ground, the horizontal bar connected to said post and bracebar adjacent to the ground and the truss-rod secured to the post adjacent to the lower end thereof and adj ustablysecured to said bracebar adjacent to its connection with said horizontal bar, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the post proper, of a pair of inclined brace-bars connected to said post adjacent to its upper end lying in vertical planes at right angles to each other and having their lower ends supported adjacent to the ground, horizontal bars connecting said post and said inclined bracebars adjacent to the ground-line, truss-rods con nected to said post adjacent to its lower end, each of said truss-rods being connected to one of said brace-bars adjacent to the groundline and means for adjusting said brace-bars to move said post, substantially as described.

, 6. The combination with the post proper, of an inclined brace-bar connected to said post adjacent to the upper end thereof and having its foot supported adjacent to the ground, a truss-rod connected at its lower end to the post adjacent to the lower end of the same and its upper end adjustably secured to said brace-bar and an adjusting device interposed between said post and the upper end of said brace-bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD B. ROBBINS. 

